England were terrible...

England were terrible.The defence shocking apart from goalkeeper David James and the 4-1 defeat to old rivals Germany was England’s biggest ever in the World Cup finals.The players did not perform.They were poor against the USA,dreadful against Algeria,improved but not great in the 1-0 win over Slovenia and simply outplayed by the younger,quicker and more inventive Germany.Fabio Capello at £6 million a year the highest paid national coach in the World,made mistakes.His team selection was open to big debate such as playing Robert Green instead of David James at the start. Emile Heskey before Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch,and the centre back partners for John Terry.Wayne Rooney never performed.There were problems before the World Cup,some self-inflicted,and I was never convinced that Capello understood the culture of English players.They did not appear to respond to being cooped up in their rooms for long hours,no mobile phones,hours of boredom,all having to eat at the same time and the lack of alcohol..The FA will point to England’s excellent qualification but it is all about the World Cup finals.England had an easy qualifying group so no shocks there.Then they were drawn in an easy to progress Group C but failed to beat the USA ,Algeria or finish top of that Group.The players let Capello down but he has to take the rap as well.It goes with the territory.His methods may work in Italy and Spain but not for England on an international stage.Managers are judged by results.The money comes with success.Results are everything.Capello says he will not resign.He wants a meeting with the FA.It could be to discuss compensation if he goes or if they want him to see out his contract.I would love to hear his explanation for England’s performance. I feel for England and Capello about the goal that was not give when Frank Lampard ‘s chip clearly crossed the line but was missed by the match officials.I don’t think in the end it would have changed the result but I suppose we will never know…...


Goal line videos...

Everyone is screaming for technology.Lets at least start with goalline videos we yell.The world ruling football body,particularly their chief Sepp Blatter will always resist it.But that’s a disgrace in the modern game and the world we live in.It would take seconds….less time that an injured player having to leave the field.The latest glaring example of course was Frank Lampard’s should have been a goal chip against Germany when the whole world saw the ball clearly over the goalline—everyone that is except the match officials.Its a joke and disgrace.

Shirts off!

Lets credit the World Cup match officials for allowing goalscorers to celebrate in real style without being given a yellow card..even when they took their shirts off.Its the greatest feeling in the game and it is crass that exuberant scenes are punished unless they deliberately wind-up opposition supporters.The British game please note!

Who will win?

Who wins the World Cup? Still the likes of Spain,Brazil and Argentina.But my dark horse was and still is Holland.There will be many of England followers though who probably now could not care less.I covered seven World Cup finals for ITV and whenever England went out the viewing figures crashed.ITV and BBC have a big investment in the South African tournament and they will be extremely disappointed at England’s exit.It affects the interest in the rest of the competition.

England v Germany - a classic pairing

I'm always happy to try to make a prediction but I really can't call the England v Germany second round match. It may well revolve around a mistake or a missed chance. I must be the only person who doesn't think it will go to a penalty shoot-out. 120 minutes will produce a winner and we will all be wise in hindsight. It's a classic pairing although England haven't got the better of Germany in the World Cup finals since that great day in 1966. Indeed, Germany have progressed farther in all of the World Cup finals tournaments since then. Fabio Capello is suddenly accepted again as a very good coach since Engand's 1-0 win over Slovenia. England weren't as good as the hype but there was certainly an improvement. There needed to be. Capello says he knows his team and hinted the only position he had to consider was the central defensive spot between Matthew Upson and Ledley King. It's an interesting choice because in the past, one of England's weaknesses in my book is not to change a winning team. I think you should pick horses for courses. Upson did play well after a shaky start but with Terry and Upson there is a lack of pace and I think that King and Terry could handle Klose much better. It could be a vital factor. There is a vulnerabilty about the first choice left-back Holger Badstuber. He missed the last match but if, as expected, he returns, England have to put speed up against him. If all that happens there is a real chance in that position for England. It's all ifs and buts. That's what makes it all so tense, exciting and appealing. The whole nation, whichever one it is, will particularly enjoy victory. It won't matter at the time that Argentina will be the probable quarter-final opponents.

ENGLAND WILL WIN AGAINST SLOVENIA

Alright I know !I wrote that England would definately beat Algeria.I was as shocked as you at England's woeful performance and result.But this time I really believe it!I think England will win both the match and the Group to go into Saturday's knock-out stage.Capello must listen to the players views and make changes.He contradicted himself with his late selection by stating that Matthew Upson plays in place of the suspended Jamie Carragher.But when asked about Joe Cole he talked about respect to other players.Cole has to start in most people's book,but will that stop stubborn Capello?I have said all along that England will not win the World Cup much as I would love them too.You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work that out.I have always had my doubts about Capello in his first World Cup.But I am convinced both the coach and players have enough to turn this round and make the next stage.Three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon is High Noon for English football.The team Capello picks will hold the key.Who plays with Wayne Rooney? Rooney will score his first World Cup goal,mark my words.The boy will come good!

VICTORY CHANGES EVERYTHING

If England beat Slovenia the suggested tensions in the England camp will ease.Results can change everything.There is no doubt there have been a few problems but we won't know the full story until later.Sir Alex Ferguson's conversation with Wayne Rooney has been reported revealing tensions in the camp.John Terry has spoken out in public.Was that off his own bat or as I suspect it was reflecting the views and feelings of several players? Now as Fabio Capello has re-acted have they have distanced themselves from Terry's comments? The thing upper most in players minds is to be selected for the big match.Terry clearly feels he is an automatic choice.It does look that way.No smoke without fire.Something prompted his remarks.I find it hard to believe its back to being stripped of the captaincy pre-World Cup.Capello,however,is right to keep in complete control but he has to look at himself.Boredom is one of the biggest problems.He has to ease up on that score.He has to listen to the players more and why not let the team know earlier?Something is clearly not working at present.England have been poor in their opening two games.

FRENCH FARCE

French farce..are the French getting their true deserts after the Thierry Henry handball against the Irish that secured their spot in the World Cup finals?Actually its all to do with their nutty coach Raymond Domenech.These problems have been coming.Thne French squad refused to train because the French Football Federation sent Nicolas Anelka home after the 2-0 defeat to Mexico.Will some opt out of today's game with South Africa?Outside France not too many tears will be shed if the 1998 World Champions exit this World Cup.A week ago I was hosting an NSPCC quiz at Villa Park.When I gave the result that France had lost the cheers nearly matched an England win!

FIFA MUST STOP PLAYERS FEIGNING INJURIES

Fifa make a big thing about fair play.Good.Now they need to review the feigning of being poleaxed.Kaka's sending off for Brazil was a good example of the opponent acting.Named,shamed and suspended will cure it overnight.The World if watching.Don't let it continue,spoil matches and affect the outcome of the World Cup.

WORLD CUP WAKING UP

The Group stages are often disappointing matches through caution,tension and fear.Now we are seeing some proper action.Portugual powered past North Korea,Spain's David Villa gets going and should have had a hat-trick.There have been one or two shocks but mostly the big boys will get going now.

NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS

They say it never rains but it pours!England players troop off after an awful performance and Wayne Rooney has a go at England fans because they booed...and one of them then breaches security and gets into the England dressing room to have a go! Just what the players needed...On my TV show after the match some wag suggested the fan should have broken into the Algerian penalty area because England's forwards hardly did! Some of the World Cup stadium security people are in dispute over money.Just what we need!FIFA,so busy being busy,must do something about this NOW.To add to England's woes Jamie Carragher is suspended after receiving two yellow cards-one each from the opening two group games.Maybe Michael Dawson should play but then maybe Fabio Capello won't pick him.Too risky for the Italian! Rooney was wrong to have a go at England fans.They are entitled to boo and the team did deserve it.England have to take it on the chin together with all the public and media re-action.It goes with the highly paid territory.Ok Wayne was frustrated with his own poor performance and the result,But he knew what he was doing when he re-acted into the live international camera taking it around the world.His temper is much more controlled these days but that re-action was ill-advised.Some-one suggested a fine.But that is equally crass.It was not offensive just silly for him to re-act.Capello hopefully will speak to him about it.Then lets move on.

BAD,BAD DAY AT THE ENGLAND OFFICE BUT ITS NOT OVER YET

One England goal in the easy looking Group C leaves two draws,two points and a must win final group stage match against Slovenia on Wednesday afternoon.I stated England would beat Algeria but I never thought the team would play so badly.I am pretty sure they will beat Slovenia but how can you be confident at present about England or their highly paid coach Fabio Capello.He picked the wrong goalie to start against the USA..and that is not just hindsight...he persists with Emile Heskey and 4-4-2,he won't play Joe Cole,he plays people out of their best position and he needs to find another way to get the best out of Rooney,Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Capello may yet have a good run in the World Cup but this will be the acid test.He does not pick the opponents or make the draws but England had an easy qualifying group and at this stage they have opponents ranked 14th,25th and 30th in the World compared with England at 8.We are entitled to expect England to comfortably make the knock-out stages.Capello needs to relax on the bench.Easier said than done but that anger cannot be helping the players who are quite obviously frightened of him in the first place.There is a lot resting on Wednesday..If we can't qualify from this Group C...well its not worth thinking about.Hope? The Germans missed their first World Cup finals penalty since 1982..( including shoot-outs)!Anything is now possible......

MY EMAIL STUFFED WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR FABIO CAPELLO

Thanks for all the emails with ideas for Fabio Capello.He needs them right now although he is very much his own man.Paul Wilson is a typical emailer on this subject.His three emails to date suggest we have a break in the Premier League season as our players appear fatigued.He says stop playing our stars out of position.Wayne Rooney should play the way Manchester United use him and not drop so deep and that the best players in the Premier League are not necessarily the best for England internationals because they play as individuals....Paul,I agree about Rooney's role and your plea not to play our players out of their best position.The problem with the mid-season break is when? The clubs don't want to lose revenue and with break for Internationals the season is crowded anyway.It should be noted that the Premier League is full of the world's top players involved in the other top World Cup squads so tiredness cannot no longer be an excuse.As for our best Premier League players,sorry I know Paul you say we are talking about individuals but the England team has to be full of our BEST players.There is a shrinking number of English players in the Premier League as it is...Thanks Paul for emailing me..and to all the others.Keep them coming on....gary@garynewbon.com

ENGLAND WILL BEAT ALGERIA.WILL CAUTIOUS COACH MAKE CHANGES?

England will beat Algeria.I cannot see any other result.Algeria are expected to drop their goalkeeper but will Fabio Capello drop Robert Green?No good asking me because I would have gambled with Joe Hart in the first place as readers of my previous blogs are concerned.Capello made a big thing last season about picking players in form and appearing in the first team.David James and Robert Green were trying to skirt around relegation all season.Hart was the star of the Birmingham City side and hardly put a foot wrong for club and on the few times he appeared for country.I think Green will probably be the manager's choice.What about up front?Most critics raved about Emile Heskey in the last match.I didn't.Sure he did exactly what he was asked.But he missed a very good chance and never looks like scoring.England cannot just rely on Wayne Rooney,Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to score goals.Capello has to try Jermain Defoe or Peter Crouch as starters.Bet he doesn't!

REFEREES ARE DOING TOO WELL SO THE BALL GETS THE BLAME!

The Jabulani ball is getting the blame!No doubt its different and difficult.But its use has been known for some time.The conspiracy theory is that the Germans have had longer to prepare for it.But I did not hear much talk about the Jabulani until the tournament was well under way-at least as far as the blame game is concerned.Now,sometime after the USA game,England coach Fabio Capello wants us the believe the Jabulani was responsible for goalkeeper Robert Green's error.Neither the honest,brave for facing up to it,Green nor Capello mentioned it after the match.Managers like to deflect their team's errors or poor results on the referee.But the officials are having a good World Cup so far-better than most of the teams.There will always be excuses.You won't hear too much about the Jabulani if England get the necessary and vital win over the poor Algerian team tomorrow.But,shock,horror if England were to lose( they won't by the way) then it will be blame the ball...........

LOVE MY FOOTBALL..LOVE THE BALLET!

Took time out from the World Cup last night.I went as the guest of the Birmingham Royal Ballet to their ON THEIR TOES.I kept thinking about when I was a kid how footballer Albert Quixall used to take ballet lessons to help his balance and agility.He played for Sheffield Wednesday and won five England caps in 1954.Far more recently former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin has become a big fan of the Birmingham Royal Ballet who are based at Birmingham Hippodrome.Dion and his wife Louise regularly attend goes to their performances and Dion is a good friend of their brilliant Director David Bintley who is an Aston Villa season ticket holder.Football clubs could do worse that use the services of these talented people.

DULL WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE? ITS NEARLY ALWAYS THE SAME!

Why are you surprised that the opening group stages matches have by and large been poor? Its is usually like that.Teams are cagey,worried about losing their opening game,scared of making mistakes.Knock-out football is a whole new ball game.9 of the opening 17 matches to date have been scoreless at half time.28 goals only have been scored and if you took away Germany's four against Australia you have just 24 in 16 games.Its been pretty boring at times. That has been the main topic of conversation this week.Sure there is a long away to go before the final on July 11.It will get better!

NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE GERMANS.

I kept hearing a few weeks ago.The Germans are young,inexperienced,not good.England would beat them easy.Well those views should be revisited after one of the World Cup specialists thrashed the Australians 4-nil their opening match.They always seem to arise to the occasion.The same was said when I was in Japan in 2002 and yet the Germans reached the final yet again.
England be warned.Avoid the Germans in the knock-out stages if you can.

VUVUZELAS ARE DOING ME HEAD IN AND ITV HD'S MISSED GOAL

The South Afrrican singing and cheering sounds great..if only you could hear them!These noisy horns the Vuvuzelas sound awful and are drowing everyone out.They are starting to irritate and do my head in.I know its a local thing but with the world's broadcasters and many of the spectators reported to be complaining the World Cup organisers should say "stop it" -that is if they can be heard!......Meanwhile I was watching the England-USA match on ITV HD when Steve Gerrard scored.Like millions of others I missed it because ITV HD was on a sudden,short very quick advertising break.They have to hold an immediate enquiry and give an explanation as to why it happened an that very moment?Its the second time it has happended in recent months.

ENGLAND DISAPPOINTING RESULT

England should have beaten the USA.Fingers will correctly point to goalie Robert Green because it was a real howler but there were other factors as well.Team selection was not quite right was it? ITV gave Emile Heskey man of the match.He did control,hold up and lay-off the ball very well.But he missed a good chance when through on goal and he was never quite in the right position to score inside the goal area.Too many England crosses found no one in the box.Peter Crouch has to come on earlier.Gareth Barry does make a difference to the England performance and England need him back in the side on Friday.Central defence has now become a problem which Fabio Capello must solve quickly.I would play Michael Dawson but it will be too much of a gamble for Fabio Capello.Whatever happened to Matthew Upson?Will Capello continue with Jamie Carragher?

But England rely too much on Wayne Rooney.He is a great player but in England's opener he did not get into the match until the closing stages.Not a good night for him but hey he is our main hope and he will come good.But it will take more than Rooney on song for England to progress far.I thought John Terry did not put a foot wrong.The USA should thank goalie Tim Howard for their point.I hope Robert Green will come again although readers of my blog know that I would have started with Joe Hart.International managers are big tournaments are often cautious and this is a case in point.Still,not that it will make Green feel any better but the Algerian keeper Faouzi Chaouchi messed up too to cost England's next opponents that match against Slovenia.He failed to deal with Robert Koren's 20 yard curler and it cost
his team a point.Slovenia's first win a major tournament puts them top of Group 6 but England will still qualify.They are sure to beat these two poor teams.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS BUT WATCH OUT FOR HOLLAND

Sadly England will not win the World Cup.Reachinng the quarter-finals would be decent,making the semis,would be very good.But winning it? There are better teams--Brazil,Spain,despite their mad coach Diego Maradona Argentina plus the strong dark horses Holland.Spain look so strong but seem to blow it often when the chips are down,Brazil look the business but apart from Sweden 1958 do not win it in Europe,Maradona looks bonkers but his team are so good on paper and Holland have the potential.I would narrow it down to Spain or Holland.Of course I hope England do well but I cannot justify naming them as World Cup winners.What we will find out in the knock-out stage is just how good is Fabio Capello as an international manager.This is his first tournament and the platform does not get any bigger. He has put discipline in the team but that should have been there in the first place.Don't take any notice of the players praising Capello.They will always say the right things about any current manager because they want to be selected.How else can they answer?Capello may be as good as is they claim. Lets hope they are right.We will discover that over the coming few weeks.And the golden boot? I think Spain's David Villa will score more than his brilliant team-mate Fernando Torres.All to play for,lets enjoy the terrific TV coverage and lets pray for a miracle!

HOPES TOO HIGH FOR ENGLAND?ITS ALWAYS THE SAME

Its a great sight if you live in England.St.George's Cross flags everywhere-cars,houses,pubs and even flying over Number 10.Its great for the nation's bonding.But will it end in the usual disappointment somewhere along the road?Almost certainly yes of course,but not right now.You hear always the same claim,"Our best chance since 1966.We have great players like Wayne Rooney.We have a great coach in Fabio Capello.We are in an easy group and could have a decent path to the final and then its anyone's".If only it was that simple.An Englishman cannot win the Mens Singles at Wimbledon.Fred Perry the last to do so in 1936.England as we know have only won the World Cup in football once-at home,all at Wembley in 1966.The late Sir Bobby Robson came oh so close in 1990 losing the semi-final penalty shoot-out in Turin.I was there,ironically sitting next to the late,great 1966 England captain Bobby Moore in the broadcasting seats.We both winced and suffered together.Would you trust England to win a crucial,late stage penalty shoot-out?So what might happen.England will top Group C.They would then face the runners up of the much tougher Group D in the last 16 knock-out stage-from Germany,Serbia,Australia or Ghana.Should just do that and into the quarter-finals where most likely to meet France.Then England-if as we would hope still in it-would expect to face either Brazil or Holland.Should England surprise most and reach the final I would expect,Argentina,Spain or Italy to be waiting.And by the way if we were runner's up in Group C our next opponents would then probably be Germany,into the quarters facing Argentina or Spain.Still think England will win the World Cup?As an Englishman I would love it.As a veteran of covering 7 World Cup finals from 1974 to 2002 ( missed 1978) I cannot see it.
In my next blog I will give you my World Cup champions.

RIO BLOW FOR ENGLAND

Not a good start for England with our World Cup captain Rio Ferdinand ruled out through injury.He is,when fully fit,a class act but he does spend too much time on the injury list.Obviously a big disappointment for Rio and England but while you do not want any fitness problems ,an injury to Wayne Rooney would be more crucial.Meanwhile which team will coach Fabio Capello start against the USA on Saturday evening?Will he play in form Joe Hart in goal for go for Robert Green or maybe David James? Will Emile Heskey really start with Wayne Rooney before Jermain Defoe or Peter Crouch?You have to believe that Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play together and who will play centre-half?.Sadly I cannot see England winning the World Cup.AS in previous years all England believes this is THE World Cup when England will emulate the 1966 team who played all their matches at Wembley.We are good but not good enough in realistic terms.Managers make a difference and Fabio Capello is doing well but the real test for all comes in the various knock-out stages.

RAFA BENITEZ TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL AFTER SIX YEARS

Rafa Benitez is set to leave Liverpool after compensation has been sorted for the remainder of his contract as the manager at Anfield.It will not be the full sum.But it will be expensive because whatever figure is hammered out Benitez had brought in a huge backroom staff including many Spanish which I would assume the new manager will not want.It is part of the cost of changing the boss!Rafa Benitez attracted more calls to the Sky Sports phone-in YOURE ON SKY SPORTS apart from England during the four years that I have hosted the show. Most wanted him out although Liverpool fans are loyal and there was always a section supporting him but even that was fading fast last season.Benitez did a very good job with early success winning the European Champions League and the FA Cup but the six year reign slowly got worse and Liverpool finished 7th in the Premier League last season and well away from a European Champions League place.Liverpool's quest for the holy grail--the Premier League title--now puts as much pressure on the Liverpool manager as Alex Ferguson faced in those early years at Manchester United.Since then Sir Alex has rubbed the title in Liverpool's noses many times.Benitez did his best,spent a lot of money on new players.Like any manager he has poor signings but also some very good ones such as goalkeeper Pepe Reina and striker Fernanado Torres.It is time to move on to it seems a lucrative job at Inter-Milan although what a challenge that will be after the Special One's treble to Champions League,Italian League and Cup!

FABIO CAPELLO SEAL ENGLAND DEAL

I would not argue that Fabio Capello has done a good job for England so far...he has put back the iron fist of management that should have been there is the first place.And by the way he should have done well for £6 million pounds a year and the qualifying group England were drawn in followed by the relatively easy World Cup group in South Africa.The real test will come in the knock-out stages.The revised contract to keep Capello as England coach until after the Euro Championships in 2012 no doubt means yet more dosh-obviously promoted by the interest reportly shown by Inter-Milan.Outside interest always helps improve your lot.Good luck to Capello who says he is confident England can win the World Cup...well he would would'nt! Lets hope he will be prove right.We have waited a long time but what a boost it would be as it was in 1966..and what a hero Capello would be.Sadly I need convincing it is going to happen.[

I CHOSE 6 OF THE 7 CAPELLO LEFT OUT BUT NOT THEO WALCOTT!

So on Monday I gave you the seven I thought Fabio Capello would leave behin d for the World Cup.I got one wrong.He is taking Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock but not Arsenal's Theo Walcott.Not that Walcott was consistent but he played in both the England friendlies last week! I was sure he would not pick Adam Johnson but it is the one I do not agree with.Johnson would bring something extra in a game when all else might have failed.Sure he is very young and his time will come.But in previous World Cups when England are facing the exit they often have not been able to play with something different.I feel that Johnson could do that and was worth the gamble as the 23rd player to go..Fabio Capello has done the Italian thing by doubling up on every position but under his management England have conceeded in most games.You won't win the World Cup doing that....my starting choice would include Joe Hart in goal,Terry and Ferdinand if fit in central defence,Gerrrard and Lampard in mid-field,Rooney with Defoe or Crouch up front and Lennon on one wing,Joe Cole on the other.Lets see who the only vote that matters polls....